Shaw recorded good finishes at the elite level this year, with a third in Rotorua and a fourth in Italy, before sickness struck when he was in Europe mid-year.
"I was over there for two months and I had a solid training block in Italy, then I went back to France and got sick," he said.
"I wasn't getting any better and I found out I had a throat infection. I was meant to race in two days' time but there was no chance of that happening.
"I had another race the next weekend but I wasn't going to be able to race at 100 per cent so I thought it was better to come home and [re-focus] for next year."
Following a break in August and September, Shaw has been racing half ironman events to prepare his body for next season. He won his first half ironman at the Karapiro Half in November.
Shaw said he would continue with half ironman races and would look to break into full ironman events in the future. However, he said Xterra was his prime target.
"At the moment Xterra is my main focus because I am a lot more competitive ... but half ironman offers a good contrast so I don't get sick of racing."
Shaw said his goal for next year would be to win his first Xterra race at elite level and finish in the top 10 at the Xterra World Championships in October.
He said his long-term goal was to win a world title at the elite level.
"In five or six years I can see myself getting into full ironman and I want to win the Xterra World Championships."
Shaw was named the Bay of Plenty junior sportsman of the year at the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards this year.
He said his highlight this year was probably finishing fourth at Xterra Italy behind Xterra world champions. He said the atmosphere at Xterra France was also pretty special.
His next race will be the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman on January 4.
